Why not publish?

[Hypoxia]

Of course one can make money from a hobby without feeling like it's a job. A question was asked ("Why don't you publish?"). I answered simply and honestly ("Because I don't want to,") without claiming I was speaking for anyone but myself. I think everyone who wants to should be doing it, even if people don't think they're "good enough". It's just not for me. I have more fun giving it away than I would if I was asking money for it. Rather like sex.

Same here. If I wanted to, I could and would. I haven't much wanted to write lately; if/when I do, it will merely be to continue exposing myself on LIT. I don't care for the complications of publishing, however slight they may be, and I don't need the paltry potential financial rewards. I'm already adequately subsidized, thank you. YMMV.

 

[sr71plt]

Of course one can make money from a hobby without feeling like it's a job. A question was asked ("Why don't you publish?"). I answered simply and honestly ("Because I don't want to,") without claiming I was speaking for anyone but myself. I think everyone who wants to should be doing it, even if people don't think they're "good enough". It's just not for me. I have more fun giving it away than I would if I was asking money for it. Rather like sex.

And I didn't question your reasoning or your post. That view was subsequently building up to one of those "everyone should do/not do this" type discussions. I haven't posted why I do do it, and don't really need defensive testimonials on why others don't--and subsequent to our post, it started to get defensive. (In fact, I hope most don't. Who needs the competition for a limited number of buyers/readers?)

 

[NotWise]

I haven't posted why I do do it, and don't really need defensive testimonials on why others don't--and subsequent to our post, it started to get defensive.

Snrk! You said "do do."

Sorry, I guess that maturity is a distant, shining light.

 

[holliday1960]

Snrk! You said "do do."

Sorry, I guess that maturity is a distant, shining light.

You just made me spit coffee AND hurt myself. Sometimes, you are just so precious.

 

[sr71plt]

You just made me spit coffee AND hurt myself. Sometimes, you are just so precious.

I almost italicized the first "do." Would that have helped?

 

[holliday1960]

I almost italicized the first "do." Would that have helped?

I don't think so, Pilot. NW is just in one of his moods. It's cute. Boys will be Boys you know.

 

[sr71plt]

I don't think so, Pilot. NW is just in one of his moods. It's cute. Boys will be Boys you know.

Should I have put a at the end of my last post?

 

[holliday1960]

Should I have put a at the end of my last post?

(Sorry about that...poweroutages here all night.) You mean we could have had 'do do' AND a ? I didn't know...but the might have saved 1/2 a cup of coffee here.
I swear...you guys are as bad as Chloe sometimes.

 

[AMoveableBeast]

Like seemingly everyone else here, if I wanted to I could be a best-selling fiction author, but I don't want to because it would ruin the pure, honest joy of my hobby. It's also the reason I'm not in the NBA throwing down monster jams. My driveway zen time just means too much to me.

I am published, many times. Boring stuff mostly, because boring stuff pays a lot better on average. But even then, you can usually make better money working any sort of decent income-producing real-world job. Most writers I know are putting in 60 hour weeks and hemorrhaging ink from every orafice to try to make a good living. You apply that to most other professional jobs, and you'll make six-figures easily.

Why isn't everyone here publishing for money? Simple. Because publishing for money is one of the least rewarding activities in the world as far as work-to-pay ratio. It is tough, gritty stuff, work-intensive and hard on the ego. And the payoff is fulfilling a dream that you probably never understood in the first place.

To do such a thing, you have to love it. More than love it. It has to be a disease.

 

[sr71plt]

I didn't start publishing erotica for money (I published mainstream for money before that) until after I retired on a hefty annuity, pile of stocks, and paid off mortgage. If I had to write for money, I wouldn't enjoy it. Since I don't write for the money, but the money comes in anyway, I enjoy the river and ocean cruises it pays for. But writing to pay the electric or grocery bill? No, I wouldn't enjoy that.

 

[AMoveableBeast]

I didn't start publishing erotica for money (I published mainstream for money before that) until after I retired on a hefty annuity, pile of stocks, and paid off mortgage. If I had to write for money, I wouldn't enjoy it. Since I don't write for the money, but the money comes in anyway, I enjoy the river and ocean cruises it pays for. But writing to pay the electric or grocery bill? No, I wouldn't enjoy that.

I did this in the reverse order. I started out writing, scraping and scrapping. Did okay, but it's a hard row.

Switched over to more profitable corporate employement.

Now I've got some wiggle-room, and can approach writing from a slightly different angle.

 

[lovecraft68]

Should I have put a at the end of my last post?

No, a this emoji would have been more appropriate.

 

[lovecraft68]

It has to be a disease.

I've felt this way more than once.

 

[sr71plt]

No, a this emoji would have been more appropriate.

Yeah, that would have been a good one. I'm too dense to know where to find and use ones like that, though.

 

[lovecraft68]

Yeah, that would have been a good one. I'm too dense to know where to find and use ones like that, though.

My sister gave me a plastic poop emoji for Christmas. It took less than a minute for my younger daughter to announce, "Auntie gives crappy gifts."

My father than asked why she would give me plastic chocolate ice cream and he was serious.

Yup...lots of class at casa de LC